Friday, November 20, 2015

Dre has waited twelve summers to become a man, but during his ceremony
the chief banishes his uncle, his mother, and even Dre himself. Thrust into the
desert, he struggles to protect himself and his mother from his drug-addicted
uncle—and certain death in the barren land.

With only a golden eagle to guide him, Dre struggles to find a source of
food and water. Abuse from his uncle and trouble with a neighboring clan could
destroy his chance for survival and keep him from finding his place in the
world. Dre must learn what real manhood
is if he hopes to survive in the harsh environment.

Praise for Banished

"Monson well deserves the title of storyteller, for she has truly captured
the music echoing

from Hopi tradition and culture." Marilyn
Brown Award

Utah Valley University Marilyn Brown Award,
1st Place Winner

Utah Arts Council, 2nd Place Winner

"Beautifully written. This book is full of adventure, danger, and
self-discovery, with details of Native American life that really bring
this story alive. A perfect choice for a young boy reader, but girls
will love it too."
Margot

"The story weaves facts, traditions and beliefs of Native American
cultures into a story that is applicable and interesting for kids (and
adults). I read the story out loud to my boys (8 and 11) so we could
experience the book together. They wanted to keep reading, chapter after
chapter and if it had been up to them, we would have finished the book
much faster. They could relate to Dre, his experiences, and his desire
to protect his mother and honor his late father." Jodi

"A must read for any young man facing the challenges of growing up,
finding his path and being true to himself. Although the main characters
are boys, girls will enjoy the beauty of the story that addresses Hopi
traditions and culture. Determined to to
survive on his own so he can care for his mother and unborn brother, Dre
faces threats that are both real and life threatening." Robyn

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Grab your gloves and snow boots,
it’s time for an adventure in a frozen wonderland—right in your own backyard!
Here are fun twists on classic winter pastimes, like sledding and making
snowmen. Learn how to design your own backyard winter Olympics.

Things to make and do include: •
Saving a Snowflake Forever • Wacky Snow Creations • Making Your Own Snowshoes •
Making a Snowball Launcher • Sidewalk Curling • Skijoring • And more!

This is a delightful book full of great ideas for
winter fun. You can capture and keep a snowflake, make ice spikes, ice ribbons,
and other great ideas. The book outlines fun games, like snow mazes, snow
launchers, wacky snow creations, and many more. All sorts of winter Olympic
games are explained with instructions for making your own equipment. The final
chapter rounds out the snow experience with children's recipes, including snow
candy and snow ice cream.

This is a must-have book for winter fun. Children in
cold country everywhere will enjoy the ideas in this book. My grandchildren
will have lots of fun trying these ideas.

Thanks to Sliding
in the Snow we can all think outside the winter-fun box.